bullet

noun

bul·​let ˈbu̇-lət How to pronounce bullet (audio)
 also  ˈbə-
often attributive
1
: a round or elongated missile (as of lead) to be fired from a firearm
broadly : cartridge sense 1a
2
a
: something resembling a bullet (as in curved form)
b
: a large dot placed in printed matter to call attention to a particular passage
3
: a very fast and accurately thrown or hit object (such as a ball or puck)
bulleted
ˈbu̇-lə-təd How to pronounce bullet (audio)
 also  ˈbə-
adjective

Examples of bullet in a Sentence

He was killed by an assassin's bullet. Bullets were used to separate each item. The quarterback threw a bullet to the receiver.
Recent Examples on the Web Troy Brewer was on his knees with his hands in front of his face when his teenage son fired a bullet from a 9mm Glock handgun into the man’s body, according to a theory developed by Tarrant County prosecutors. Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 May 2024 The Man With the Golden Gun (1974) Bond receives an unexpected gift in the mail: a gold bullet with 007 engraved on it. Chris Nashawaty, EW.com, 29 May 2024 The employee, identified in court records as 25-year-old Sylvester Carver, allegedly followed them in a black Tesla, waited for an opportune moment and riddled their Toyota with bullets from an automatic weapon. Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 28 May 2024 Prosecutors said there were six live bullets found on the set, including the one that was fired from the prop gun Baldwin was holding. CBS News, 24 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for bullet 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bullet.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle French boulette small ball & boulet missile, diminutives of boule ball — more at bowl

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bullet was in 1579

Dictionary Entries Near bullet

Cite this Entry

“Bullet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bullet. Accessed 6 Jun. 2024.

Kids Definition

bullet

noun
bul·​let ˈbu̇l-ət How to pronounce bullet (audio)
1
: a usually cone-shaped lead pellet fixed in the front of a firearms cartridge
2
a
: something like a bullet
b
: a large dot used in print to call attention to a particular passage
3
: a very fast and accurately thrown or hit object (as a ball)
bulleted adjective
Etymology

from early French boulette "small ball" and boulet "something thrown or shot," from boule "ball," from Latin bulla "bubble" — related to boil, bowl

More from Merriam-Webster on bullet

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